Michael began wake surfing in 2012, creating a wave by having a group of friends sit on one side of the boat. He was hooked and soon upgraded his boat and board. Boating season was short in Washington, but wake surfing became his family’s summer activity. He, along with his wife and two daughters, even flew to Arizona for lessons. In 2015, he began competing in the Masters Surf division and place 2nd in his first competition. In 2016, he qualified to compete in the World Wake Surfing Championship. After a hip injury and surgery, he took a hiatus from competing, but wake surfing remained his passion and escape. 

When Michael pops up on his Soulcraft board, he forgets that he is legally blind. The challenges of his disability that are significant every day of his life diminish when he is shredding the waves and cheering for his wife and girls. He spends the time on the water and feels “normal.” Michael now lives in sunny Arizona, surfing all year around on Lake Pleasant. He is invigorated by the support and encouragement of the wake surf community and the Soulcraft family. 

Michael has dedicated his entire professional career to helping individuals with disabilities reach their goals, so he was thrilled when Soulcraft asked him to be the Adaptive Team Leader. He wants others to forget thier disabilities and feel the freedom he feels out on the water.